Artificial leg.



L. 0. GONNER & G. R. HALE.

ARTIFICIAL LEG. APPLIOATION mum H0120} 191s.

Patented July 21, 19%

LQ6'0'il/zer@ [@Inventor Attorneys WUTED srarne rerun LESLIE 0. CONNEB AND GEORGE E. HALE, 0F NAREO'WS, VIRGINIA.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

arc ers.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatcntcdJuly 21, 191 1.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, Lnsmn O. Corinna and Gnonou R. HALE, citizens of the United States, residing at Narrows, 1n the county of State of Virgin a, have invented a.

Giles,

new and useful Artificial Leg,

following is a specification.

The object of the invention of which the is to improve the knee joint connection between the thigh v and the calf of an artificial leg.

In the drawingz Figure .1 shows the invention in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section;-'Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the knee spring, attendant parts being shownin elevation; and Fig. at is a fragniental front elevation of the calf.

The artificial leg herein disclosed-cone prises a tubular thigh 1 and a tubular calf 2. The lower end of 'he thigh 1 extends into the upper end of the calf 2. Bearings 3 are secured to the sides of the calf 2 and receive a pivot element 1 whiclnpassing through the lower end of the thigh 1, affords a hinged joint between the thigh and the calf.

The invention further includes a knee spring which, generally considered, is of U-shap'e, the knee spring being shown in clearest outline in Fig. 3. The upper, curved end 5 of the knee spring bears against a stop pin 6 which extends across the interior of the thigh 1. The side portions 7 of the spring are bent. upon themselves to form eyes 8 which surround the pivot element 4:. One eye 8 ofthe spring is prolonged to form a depending arm 9 having a lateral extension 10, the same terminating in a forwardly presented, angularly disposed finger 11 which is shown in Fig. 2. The other eye 8 of the spring isprolonged to form an arm 12 terminating in a rectangularly disposed extension l l having :1 depending terminal finger 15.

Located within the tubular calf 2 is a primary brace 16, the lower end of which bears against the front portion of the calf 2, as shown at 17 Any suitable means may be provided for holding the brace 16 in place on the calf 2. In the present instance, spaced openings 18 are stormedin the front wall of the calf 2, as shown in Fig.- 5-, and through these openings 18 is, extended a thong 19 which'passes around the lower end 17 of the brace 16. The exposed ends of the thong 19 are crossed upon the outer face of the calf 2 as will he-understood from. Fig. 4e, and

througlri'he exposed ends of the thong at their point of crossing 20, is inserted a nail "21 or like securing element. The extension 10 of the arm 9 bears against the rear edge of the primary brace 16, adjacent the upper end of the brace, and the finger 11 extends along the side face of the brace 16, as shown in Fig. 2, and is secured to the brace.

The invention further includes a secondary brace 22, located within the tubular calf 2. By means of securin elements 23, the secondary brace 22 is -he ld in place at its lower end in the calf 2. At its upper end, the sec ondary brace 22 is equipped with a transverse slot 21. The transverse extension 14 of the arm 12 of the spring rests in the slot 24 and the finger 15 extends along one side face of I the brace 22, as will be understood from Fig. 4. A resilient butter 25,made of rubber or the like, is secured to the thigh 1 adjacent the lower end thereof, the butter 25 lying in the path ot' theupper end of the primary brace 16. The braces 16 2111622, although resilient,

so as to swing vertically in a direction parallel-t0 the plane of swingin movement of the calf-2, are'held against imgitudinal inovenl F nt.

Sincef the braces the braces together, with the knee spring shown in Fig. 3 may be described generally as a resilient structure.

16 and 22 are resilient- When the calf 2 is swung rearwardly, or

when the knee portion of the device is moved forwardly, the U-shaped spring will be put under tension because the end5 of the spring bears against the pin 6 and because the arms 9 and 12 of the spring are operatively connected, respectively, with the primary brace 16 and with the secondary brace 22. The function of the U-shaped's ring is to swing the calf 2 forwardly, and t is swingingmocalf; a spring comprising arms, the spring being engaged in its intermediate portion with the pivot element means upon the thigh'tor engaging one end of the spring;

braces connected with the arms of the spring and located within the calfl and means for connecting the braces with the calf.

' 2. In an artificial log, a thigh; a calf; a

pivot element connecting the thigh with the calf; a spring bearing in its intermediate portion upon the pivot eleme t andcomprising arms; means upon theth'igh for engaging one end of the spring; forward and rear I braces located within the calf'and connected with the arms of'the spring; means for securing therear brace to the-calf; {the forward brace being longitudinally adjnstable upon the cal-f;--and the calf engaging means co- 5 operating with the forward brace to hold the same fixedin adjusted positions. Y '3. In an artificial leg, a thigh; a calf pivotally connected therewith; forward and rear. braces attached adjacent their lower.

ends to. the calf; upwardly extending resilient elements connected at their lower ends with the braces; means upon the thigh for receiving the upper portions of the resilient elements; andmeans upon the thigh for supporting the resilient elements intermediate theirv ends.

4:. In anartificial log, a thigh; a calf; fprward and rear braces secured; to the calf; springs connected with the braces adjacent 'their upper ends; and means for connecting the springs with the thigh.

5. n an artificial leg, a thigh; a calf pivotally connected therewith; a -brace connected with the forward portion of tire calf; a spring connected with the upper end of the brace; means upon the thigh for engaging the upper portion of the s ring.

6.. In an artificial leg, a thig ;a calf pivotally connected therewith; a brace located within the calf and secured adjacent its lower end tothe rear portion of the calf;

a spring connected with the upper end ofthe brace; and meansupon the thigh for en- W. B.- WARNER, W. O. COL-MAN. 

